Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 59.4 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

Mortals join the mighty chorus Which the morning stars began

Where were you When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:4a, 7 ESV

How cool is that? The writer invites us to join that song that the morning stars began. A couple episodes ago we contemplated that star song. Now we are being invited to join it! Mere mortals singing along with the mighty chorus of the stars. What are you waiting for?

Father love is reigning o’er us Brother love binds man to man

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 1 Peter 1:22 ESV 

Our souls are purified as we obey. The Father is love. Our obedience creates the possibility of loving from a pure heart. We surrender to His reign by loving each other. The mingling of obedience, purity and love is intriguing and seems to be self-perpetuating. Love and obey.

Ever singing march we onward Victors in the midst of strife

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:35, 37 ESV

Even in strife we continue to march onward, ever singing with joy. How are we able to do that? Because we conquer all those difficulties through Him who loved us. His love fuels our overcoming joy by keeping us ever connected to Him, the Source of love and joy.

Joyful music lifts us sunward In the triumph song of life

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:1-2 ESV

And so we sing. Joyfully sing. We are filled with joy because His love saves us and lifts us into His presence and praise. Give Him thanks for all He has done, not the least of which is giving you a reason to sing and the capacity to do so. Joyful hallelujah!

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Mortals join the mighty chorus Which the morning stars began

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 59.3 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

Thou art giving and forgiving Ever blessing ever blest

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8 ESV

Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. God is merciful and gracious because He is giving and forgiving. He is always blessing us and thus is worthy of blessing. When was the last time you blessed the Lord by giving Him praise?

Wellspring of the joy of living Ocean depth of happy rest

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 ESV

We can attempt to stir up joy from within, or we can look for a source beyond ourselves. Rather than driving to conjure up joy, we would be well served to look to the wellspring, the source of true joy, God himself. Pursuing him brings rest and peace to our souls.

Thou our Father Christ our Brother All who live in love are Thine

In love He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:4b-5 ESV

The last two words of verse four begin the translation of this complete sentence and thought. We are adopted by the Father because of what Christ has done. He does so in love and invites us to live that way. This is His will for us, to live in love. Nothing brings greater joy.

Teach us how to love each other Lift us to the joy divine

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 ESV

Living in His love, learning how to love one another, gives us a taste of heaven and lifts us to the joy divine. Certainly there are many who love well and have joy who do not know God, but the kind of love and joy we are speaking of can only be found in God.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Thou art giving and forgiving Ever blessing ever blest

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 59.2 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy!  Psalm 96:11-12 ESV

Again, and again in the Psalms, we read how creation itself calls us to worship our Creator God. It reflects His glory and in so doing instructs our praise. When you imagine a scene like the one described here, does it make you want to join in the praise?

Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:7 ESV

The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and described the earliest worship as God began to lay the foundations of the earth and the stars and angels uttered praise. Since those first moments of worship they have never stopped continually offering adoration.

Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 ESV

From the most profound creations to simpler ones, everything in creation is rejoicing and then invites us to join them. In this prophecy Isaiah gives hope to the people of God that even though we may face difficulty our Lord will have compassion on us and give us joy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!. Psalm 148:7-10 ESV

Birds and livestock, sea creatures and the watery home, fire, storms, mountains and trees all call us to rejoice in God. How? By their mere existence, variety, beauty and power. Everywhere we look the invitation can be seen if we have eyes to see. Do you?

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time,Be Resonant.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Psalm 100:1-2 ESV

We are commanded to offer our praise to God so to do so is simply responding and obedience. How do we make that praise, joyful? We consider the One to whom it is offered. He is the God of glory, the Lord of love and He alone is worthy of our joyful adoration.

…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:28b-29 ESV

Our praise should come naturally. Our hearts should mirror the ease of flowers as they open themselves to the sun. They intrinsically know the value of what is shining down upon them and we can as well if we will simply open our hearts to it, to Him. Open your heart.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the dark of doubt away

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2a ESV

Maybe some sin or sadness is making it difficult to receive the joy inducing warmth of God s love. He wants to melt those clouds and drive the dark of doubt away. Will you let him? If you will, you will be like those calves being released from a stall, free to leap with joy.

Giver of immortal gladness Fill us with the light of day

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 ESV

This is not some fleeting happiness, but an eternal joy. It does not simply warm us on the outside, but from within our souls. Nothing changes God's desire to fill you with His light. What needs to change us. How can you position your heart to receive his light today? Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 58.5 Transcript, 6.5

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,

…I heard around the throne…the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Revelation 5:11-12 ESV

To love God with this kind of adoration we draw inspiration from His messengers who never cease to give Him the praises due His name.  They are undivided in their affections toward the living God. Ask the Spirit to help you mimic them.

  One holy passion filling all my frame;

My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:2 ESV

In this verse the Psalmist seems to be mimicking the angels love, his soul, heart and flesh longing to be in God's presence and sing His praises.  Can you with sincerity say you long for God's presence to the point of fainting? I can not, but I want to. Ask the Spirit to give you such a consuming passion.

The kindling of the heav'n-descended Dove,

And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:3-4 ESV 

And what a beautiful picture these last lines create.  Welcoming the flames of God's consuming fire into our lives.  The Spirit is the kindling, the substance which makes getting the fire started much easier.  Ask Him to reveal anything in your life that would hinder His kindling work.

My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV

This confuses the imagery a bit making my life the sacrifice instead of my heart the altar, but it helps illustrate the point.  God's love is what sets the kindling of the Spirit on fire, and this activity transpires on the altar of my heart. Ask the Spirit to light that fire in your heart today and every day!

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 58.4 Transcript, 6.4

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;

Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23-24 ESV

Rhetorical questions.  Whether close at hand or far away, God is there, seeing us in what we think are secret places.  He fills heaven and earth. Even when we might be inclined to run from Him we can not. Instead, ask Him to help you live with an ever-increasing awareness of His presence.

 Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 ESV

The Spirit is waiting to give us the power we need to bear the weight of every struggle our soul will face.  And to what end, in so doing we demonstrate our love for God and receive the crown of life. Ask the Holy Spirit to bless you with the strength to remain steadfast under trial.

To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12 ESV

Doubt and unbelief are so similar they can be mistaken for one another.  Belief requires trust. Trust checks doubt and rebellion at the door, for you can exercise faith to submit to one you trust.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas where doubt or rebel may be standing at the door of your heart.

 Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 John 5:14 ESV

This kind of confidence gives us the patience to wait for the answer when we may be inclined to doubt if our prayer was even heard.  It also gives us the opportunity to carefully examine our motives in the event we are asking something outside of God's will. Ask the Spirit to give you such confidence.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 58.3 Transcript, 6.3 REPLAYED

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16 ESV

Rhetorical question.  Of course He bids us to love.  We know this because He loved us first, then invites us to abide or live in that love so He, and His love, may abide in us.  If you know that love, are you living your life responding to it?

 All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' Mark 12:30 ESV

The Great Commandment, or at least the first half of it.  Love for God, demonstrated by a love for all the things associated with God, is the command.  This is not as easy as it seems becuase other things compete with our affection for God. What is competing for yours?

I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling:

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

We cling to the cross because we not only see it, but understand what it represents to us.  God first loved us by paying the penalty our sin required. When we truly see the cross, we learn to cling.  Ask the Holy Spirit to teach your heart to cling to the cross.

 Oh, let me seek Thee, and, oh, let me find!

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

How can I cling to someone or something I am still seeking to find?  I purpose to cling to that which I have understood and known with the hope that this close proximity fosters a longing for even more, for there is always more of God's love than I have apprehended.  Ask the Holy Spirit to call you deeper into that love.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 58.2 Transcript, 6.2 REPLAYED

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,

And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; Acts 2:17 ESV

This stanza contrasts the things for which we often long because they appear so desirable, with the thing for which we should truly long.  The first three lines focused on the things we determine to not ask for, in this first line, dreams and visions. Determine to not seek them.

 No sudden rending of the veil of clay,

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away…For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:9-10-12 ESV

Our flesh impairs our ability to clearly see the things of the Spirit.  Though it would be wonderful to experience an abrupt tearing of the curtain the flesh creates so we could discern the things of the Spirit, like we will one day, the hymn chooses not to ask for this either.  Can you come to terms with having to deal with the weaknesses of the flesh?

No angel visitant, no opening skies,

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! Luke 2:13-14 ESV

Angels are often mentioned in the Scriptures, and the skies opened to show something of God's purposes on more than one occasion, never quite like this moment over Bethlehem pastures.  Even still, there is something we would prefer even more in regard to the Spirit's work. Can you imagine that?

 But take the dimness of my soul away.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

And finally the writer gets to what he does want, clarity of soul, something that is impossible beyond the work of the Spirit.  Our souls are dim, slow to grasp the surpassing greatness of our God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand His work and ways.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 58.1 Transcript, 6.1 REPLAYED

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26 ESV

The heart is the seat of our intellect, will and emotions.  When we ask the Holy Spirit to settle on our hearts, we are asking Him to teach us, and bring to remembrance everything Jesus said.  Ask the Spirit to instruct your intellect, will and emotions.

 Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 ESV

One use of wean means to free from an unusually unwholesome habit or interest.  The flesh is inclined to those very things and searches for them among the materials of earth.  Walking in the Spirit, allowing Him to direct every pulse of our intellect, will and emotions, is the antidote for this malady.  Ask Him to be that for you today.

Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV

The Spirit works in us to produce fruit that is beneficial for our lives and those around us, including the Church.  We need His empowering because we are weak. He gives to each according to His will Ask Him to give you power from on high to engage in God's will and work.

 And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 ESV

What a beautiful image this evokes!  God's love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  We are incapable of loving God as we ought to without His help.  We may approximate it but we will always fall short. Ask the Spirit to help you love Him.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

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Check out the blog which this podcast accompanies here. For more like it, find a list of all our podcasts by episodes on our website here. And the rest of our content, including video logs and other tools to help you Be Resonant here.

Podcast 57.2 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let's think about this.

Lo Jesus meets us Risen from the tomb

Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. Mark 16:9, 12 ESV

The resurrected Christ met many of His disciples face-to-face before his ascension. Here we read of Mary, and two others, and even though we do not see Him face-to-face, we know Jesus lives and meets us also.

Lovingly He greets us Scatters fear and gloom

And behold, Jesus met them and said, Greetings! And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid . Matthew 28:9-10a ESV

It is hard to imagine what those disciples must have felt when they heard the familiar voice of Jesus greet them. They responded with affection and adoration. How I long to fall at His feet and worship Jesus!

Let the church with gladness Hymns of triumph sing

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 ESV

We have a reason to celebrate, and one of the many ways we do that is by singing. We sing glad songs of triumph because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

For her Lord now liveth Death hath lost its sting

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 ESV

No victory. No sting. Even though we may die we will be victorious over death and it will have no painful, burning effect on us, like the piercing fang of a venomous cobra. 

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Thine be the glory risen conquering Son

Take the mindfulness of God's presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

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